Ski tow apparatus



Feb. 14, 1961 WEBER 2,971,475

SKI TOW APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR.

BY J'QHN M. WEBER ATTQ ENEVS F b, 14, 19 1 J. M. WEBER 2,971,475

SKI TOW APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1958 4 ee s-Sheet 2 LElg-e II II II IIII II II I! II II \II II II II I! II II II II II II II II INVENTOR. JOHNM- WEBER Wmaw fiwm v ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 J. M. WEBER sx: TOWAPPARATUS 4 Sheets$heet :51

Filed Aug. 29, 1958 56 e 1 28 [5 LA- INVENTOR.

I I l! IQHN M BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 14,1961 J. M. WEBER SKI TOW APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 29. 1958 INVENTOR.

\TOHN M. WEE-E 2 ATTORNEY-S a. ski tow apparatus which I adaptable foruse on land of any contour, one which will accommodate a single skier ora multitude of skiers with "ease and facility, and one which iseconomically feasible.

. invention will be fully apparent way of the apparatus of the presentinvention, -line showing indicating 2,971,475 SKI TOW APPARATUS John M.Weber, Webers Resort, Marenisco, Mich. Filed Aug. 29, 1958, Ser. No.757,991 4 Claims- (Cl. 105-29) ing skiers over a ground surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ski tow apparatushaving self-propelled towing means thereon for the use of skiers whentraveling over a prescribed closed path upwardly and downwardly on aground surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus fortowing skiers over a ground surface which has self-propelled unitsselectively attached to the trackway of the apparatus, and automatic inoperation.

" A further object of the present invention is IO PIOVIdE is sturdy inconstruction, one

A still further object of the present invention is to provide aski towapparatus which is simple in structure, one

' sturdy in construction, one which is adaptable, to many powersupplies, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present from the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the closed path ski tow trackway of thepresent invention with a portion in the center broken away, the dottedlines showing the travel movement of one of the supporting arms carriedby the trackway of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is an elevational view with a portion broken away showing theconnection to the trackway of a source 1-of electric power,

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the trackthe dotted thefigure of a skier in a position of use being towed by one of the bars ofthe apparatus,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 3,

views, inFigure l the reference numeral designates a" trackway arrangedin a closed path with a portion centrally of the trackway broken away torepresent a rela- ,tively longdistance between end loops 12 and 14. The

trackwayl fl is adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced from aground surface over which skiers are to be towed from one elevatlon to ahigher elevation and infrequently from the higher elevation to the lowerelevation, the loop 12 being here represented as the lower loop and theloop 14 represented as being a loop at a higher elevation, as shown inFigure 2.

The trackway 1t embodies a pair of tracks 16 and 18 .tion along thepathway of the ski tow.

ice

.arranged in vertical spaced relation, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, andto the bars 16 and 18 is connected a source of DC. power, the bars16'and 18 being supported upon a plurality of standards 20 arranged inspaced linear rela- A hand grasping bar 22, horizontally disposed, ispositioned adjacent to and spaced fromthe outer side of the trackway 10and extends transversely with respect to the trackway 10. The inner endof the hand grasping bar 22 is formed with a box frame member 24 (Figure3), supporting an electric motor 26 having its drive shaft disposedvertically, the drive shaft being designated by the numeral 28. A

pinion 30, carried on the upper end of the drive shaft 28, constitutes adriving means on the drive shaft 28 interengaging means, embodying arack 32, provided on the upper track 16 for propelling the hand graspingbar 22 therealong when the electric rnotor 26 is energized. The shaft 28is positioned in the space between the adjacent end of the hand graspingbar 22 and the track 16, as shown in Figure 5. An upwardly projectingarm 34 carried by the frame member 24 has a roller 36 rotatably mountedthereon.

A support rod 38 is arranged in an upwardly and forwardly slopingdirection and is positioned intermediate the ends of the hand graspingbar 22 with the upper end of the support rod 38 adjustably secured tothe hand grasping bar 22 by means of a sleeve 23 on its upper end and aset screw 25 threaded in a hole in the sleeve 23 and having one endbearing against the bar 22. A block 40.is slidably carried on theportion of the support rod 38 intermediate the ends thereof and isadjustable thereon. An arm 42 projects from one side of the block 40 andcarries a brackrest 44, also adjustably positioned with respect to thearm 42. The backrest 44 faces in the direction of the hand grasping bar22.

The track 16 embodies a channel member 46 having an inner flange 48 andan outer flange 50 against which the roller 36 bears due to theout-slung weight of the hand grasping bar 22 and connected apparatus.Dependingly secured to the inner flange 48 is an inverted flexiblechannel strip 52 protecting a bar conductor 54. A brush assembly 56 iscarried on the adjacent portion of the frame member 24 and has one endin electrical contact with the conductor 54.

The lower track 15 constitutes a channel member 58 facing outwardly ofthe trackway 10 and against which bears the rollers 60 of a carriage 62carried on the lower end of a brace member 64. The upper end of thebrace member 64 is fixedly secured to the hand grasping bar 22intermediate the point of attachment of the support rod 38 and the framemember 24.

Another inverted U-shaped insulating strip 66 is carried on the lowerflange of the channel member 58 and contains or surrounds a barconductor 68 which is in electrical contact with a brush assembly 70carried on the lower end portion of the shaft 72 which suppolts theforward roller 60 of the carriage 62.

A strut 74 extends between the mid-portion of the brace member 64 andthe portion of the hand grasping bar 22 adjacent to and exteriorly ofthe frame member 24, the strut 74 serving to brace the hand grasping bar22 in its horizontal position.

' Wires 76 and 78 connect the brush assemblies 56 and 70 to the electricmotor 26 for energization of the latter.

It is to be understood that the portions of the trackway 10 shown inFigures 3, 4and 5, relate to sections of power device used with thepresent invention is shown in which a gasoline engine 82 is mountedwithin a frame 84 carried by the inner end of a hand grasping bar 22',the engine 82 having a drive shaft 86 projecting from its lower end andcarrying a pulley 88 over which runs a belt 90 connecting the pulley 88to another pulley 92 carried upon a shaft 94 extending vertically andjournaled in the lower end portion of a brace member 64' and in theframe 84 outwardly of an arm 96 carrying a roller 98 on the upper endthereof. A pinion 100 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the shaft94 and is in meshing engagement witha rack 102 mounted on the outer faceof the tracks 16' and 18' which are mounted upon a plurality of spacedsupports 20'. A roller 60' supports the lower end of the base member 64'in the trackway provided by the channel member 58' on each side of thesupport 20'.

In use, a skier, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and designated bythe reference numeral 104, may position himself rearwardly of the handgrasping bar 22, 22', with his hands gripping the hand grasping bar 22.22', his back or buttocks bearing against the backrest 44 and with hisskis 106 resting upon the ground surface. Upon introduction of anelectrical current into the conductors 54 and 68 from a source such asis designated in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 108, or upon startingof the engine 82, the motor 26 or engine 84 will effect the rotation ofthe driving pinion 30, or 100, and the associated bar 22, 22' will bemoved alongthe tracks 16, 16' and 18, 18' towing the skier 104.

When the skier 104 reaches the elevated loop 14, he may leave the handgrasping bars 22, 22' and the same will return along the trackway to theloop 12 and thence back to the loading section of the trackway 10 whichis preferably provided with a break-away section, not shown, permittingremoval therefrom of the hand grasping bars 22, 22' for storage andreplacement thereon, as demanded by the number of skiers to be towed.

Any suitable means may be used to support the tracks 16, 16' on theupper ends of the standards 20, 20 respectively, such suitable meansincluding upright stud bolts 110 carrying horizontally disposed plates112 on their upper ends, the plates 112 supporting the tracks 16, 16 invertical spaced relation with respect to the tracks 18, 18'respectively.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski tow apparatus comprising a trackway arranged in a closed pathand adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced from a groundsurface over which skiers are to be towed, said trackway embodying apair of tracks arranged in vertical spaced relation, a grasping barpositioned adjacent to and spaced from the outer side of said trackwayand extending transversely with respect to said trackway, a support rodarranged in an upwardly and forwardly sloping direction positionedintermediate the ends of said bar and having the upper end fixedlysecured to said bar, a back rest positioned on the side of said supportrod facing said grasping bar and supported by said support rod adjacentthe lower end of the latter, a motor having a vertically disposed driveshaft, said bar encompassing. and supporting said motor and extending onopposite sides of said motor, and vertically spaced rollers operativelyconnected to said grasping bar and reliably engaging the upper and lowertracks, and driving means on said drive shaft interengaging means onsaid trackway for propelling said bar therealong.

2. A ski tow apparatus comprising a trackway arranged in a closed pathand adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced from a groundsurface over which skiers are to be towed, said trackway embodying apair of tracks ar- 4 ranged in vertical spaced relation, a grasping barpositioned adjacent to and spaced from the outer side of said trackwayand extending transversely with respect to said trackway, a support rodarranged in an upwardly and forwardly sloping direction positionedintermediate the ends of said bar and having the upper end fixedlysecured to said bar, a back rest positioned on the side of said supportrod facing said grasping bar and supported by said support rod adjacentthe lower end of the latter, a motor having a vertically disposed driveshaft. said bar encompassing and supportingsaid motor and extending onopposite sides of said motor, and vertically spaced rollers operativelyconnected to said grasping bar and reliably engaging the upper and lowertracks, and a pinion on said drive shaft interengaging a rack providedon said trackway for propelling said bar therealong.

3. A ski tow apparatus comprising a trackway arranged in a closed pathand adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced from a groundsurface over which skiers are to be towed, said trackway embodying apair of tracks arranged in vertical spaced relation, a grasping barpositioned adjacent to'and spaced from the outer side of said trackwayand extending transversely with respect to said ends of said bar andhaving the upper end fixedly secured trackway, a support rod arranged inan upwardly and forwardly sloping direction positioned intermediate theto said bar, a back rest positioned on the side of said support rodfacing said grasping bar and supported by said support rod adjacent thelower end of the latter, a

motor having a vertically disposed drive shaft, said bar encompassingand supporting said motor and extending on opposite sides of said motor,a carriage adjacent the lower one of said tracks and carried by saidbar, and

vertically spaced rollers operatively connected to said grasping bar andcarriage and rollably engaging the upper and lower tracks, and drivingmeans on said drive shaft inlerengaging means provided on one of saidtracks for propelling said bar therealong.

4. A ski tow apparatus comprising a trackway arranged in a closed pathand adapted to be positioned adjacent to and spaced from a groundsurface over which skiers are to be towed, said trackway embodying apair of tracks arranged in vertical spaced relation, a grasping barpositioned adjacent to and spaced from the outer side of said trackwayand extending transversely with respect to said trackway, a support rodarranged in an upwardly and forwardly sloping direction positionedintermediate the ends of said bar and having the upper end fixedlysecured to said bar, a back rest positioned on the side of said supportrod facing said grasping bar and supported by said support rod adjacentthe lower end of the latter, a motor having a vertically disposed driveshaft, said bar encompassing and supporting said motor and extending onupposite sides of said motor, a carriage adjacent the lower one of saidtracks and carried by said bar, and vertically spaced rollersoperatively connected to said grasping bar and carriage and rollablyengaging the upper and lower tracks, a pinion on said drive shaftinterengaging a rack provided on the upper one of said tracks forpropelling the said bar therealong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS572.377 Schatz Dec. 1, 1896 1,383,065 Biggert June 28, 1921 1,728,726Fink Sept. I7. 1929 1,800,864 Keen Apr. 14, 1931 1,801,141 Connors Apr.I4. 1931 2,087,232

Constam July 20, 1937

